UML row: Oli, Nepal meeting ends inconclusively

KATHMANDU, July 8: The meeting between CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal ended inclusively. 

The two-hour meeting held at Hotel Marriott in Naxal, Kathmandu  on Wednesday evening could not reach any conclusion as Chairman Oli was not ready for a ‘power-sharing’ deal. 

While the Nepal faction is seeking a graceful unity and agreement in a package, the Oli faction say that they will not sign any deal as they had already ‘revived the party organization as it was on My 16, 2018’. 

During the meeting, the two leaders were also briefed about the progress made so far by the task force formed to resolve the dispute through a dialogue. The two leaders also had a one-to-one meeting.

Talking to reporters, UML Vice-chair Dr Bhim Bahadur Rawal said serious deliberations were held on giving a productive outcome for the party unity. The discussion will continue both at the senior leaders' level and in the task force, he said.

In addition to Dr Rawal, UML General Secretary Iswar Pokharel, PP deputy leader Subas Chandra Nembang, deputy general secretary Bishnu Prasad Poudel and standing committee member Surendra Pandey were also present at the meeting.

The taskforce members include party leaders, Subas Chandra Nembang, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Shankar Pokharel and Bishnu Prasad Rimal from the side of Prime Minister and party chair Oli and Dr Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Ghanashyam Bhusal, Surendra Prasad Pandey, Gokarna Raj Bista and Raghuji Pant from party leader Nepal camp.